PBS station WGTE-TV looks at life, nation 'After Newtown' today, Saturday

12/21/2012
BLADE STAFF
Greg Frattaroli, 19, of Newtown, Conn., visits a memorial for the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims earlier this week.
Greg Frattaroli, 19, of Newtown, Conn., visits a memorial for the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims earlier this week.

The tragedy a week ago in Newtown, Conn., has left many feeling helpless. But since doing nothing is not the American way, it will be addressed in two programs on WGTE-TV, Channel 30, for an hour tonight and for three hours Saturday.

Today’s program, After Newtown, starts at 8 p.m. on the PBS station.

Saturday’s program looks at what it takes to initiate widespread debate and long-term solutions. What Next After Newtown: What our Country and Communities Can Do, begins at 3 p.m.

The program will explore many of the subjects that nearly everyone has discussed in recent days. That includes the accessibility of weapons; media violence; helping children heal; school security; public policy and mental illness, and troubled shooters.

Representatives will be on hand from such groups as National Alliance on Mental Illness, Common Sense Media, and Child Mind Institute.

The special will be live-streamed at PBS.org/afternewtown, and will be available after broadcast. Viewers can take part in the debate via Twitter using the #AfterNewtown hashtag.